Surroutisnim, would you dare to stage your routine? is a surreal experience of a banal situation taking place in a domestic space. This project aims to invite the spectator to become an actor of his routine for a daily poetry of interactions between humans and objects.

Based on an exploration within the domestic space, the design of emotional props becomes a set of criterion on how to reinvent humble objects. Banal objects become actors that keep their original function while enhancing their emotional aspects.

Routine etymologically means a small road, an imaginary one that we take every day, out of habit. This road might be a beautiful and sunny one, but after taking it over and over, we forget to look at the sky, the pavement, the flower on the side and the people we meet along the way. The aim of this project is to explore and find ways to make us realise what is this road made of, where it is going, how we can enjoy it and follow it not by laziness, but to discover new horizons. The methodology used for that is called Surroutinism. Its focus is to use the language and components of the routine to surpass it, to become active in the building and use of this road to find alternative ways.

5 minutes live performance - master Social Design graduation project.

In collaboration with François Bonnot.

Exhibited at the Design Academy, Eindhoven in October 2016 for the Dutch Design Week.

Presented in live at Palais de Tokyo, Paris in April 2016 for the festival

The Surroutinist way to approach banality with a new intensity is a process in which objects, humans and emotions play equal parts in the storytelling. This narratival performance is a starting point from which the users are invited to engage with this way of being and acting into a banal situation and to appropriate and start a personal reflection toward their own experience of routine. From there on, Surroutinist designers and users eager to intensify their routine are bound together in an perpetually renewed performance with daily emotions linked to objects aiming to reinvent the everyday life.

With Surroutinism we give a twist to everyday routines, adding the extra to the ordinary, offering a new perspective on well-known scenarios. We use the power of acting to highlight the beauty of routine and trigger the imagination. How design can trigger you to stage your routine? If home is a stage, the stage is my home. Our aim is to research the multiples aspects of the everyday, and the realms of emotions and stories that are bound to it, in order to understand where design can play a role for users to reclaim and amplify the small aspects of their routine.

The methodology used for that has been defined as Surroutinism. Its focus is to use the language and components of the routine to surpass it, to become active in the building and use of this road, to find ways, shortcuts, and alternative routes. We invite you, spectator, to become actor of your routine for a daily poetry of interactions between humans and objects. Enjoy the journey.

You’re at home; the doorbell rings.

Whoops, the couch launches you towards the door!

It’s a friend who comes by to return a borrowed book: when you put it back on the shelf, a new one pops out.

And when you poor him a cup of coffee, the table starts eating the cups... strange things are happening!

Luckily you’re wearing your sponge slippers, that soak up all that is spilled.